Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has barred all elected and appointed officials in the state from campaigning for his second term in office.
Fayemi gave the order in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday at the special sitting of the state House of Assembly while reacting to the vote of confidence passed on his administration by the house.
He called on them to forget about 2014 for now and join hands with him in tackling the various developmental problems confronting the state.
Fayemi, who rejoiced with the assembly, urged the law makers to continue to embrace constructive engagements in dealing with him and forget about campaigning for him for a second term.
“By the vote of confidence you unanimously passed on me today, you have placed a big burden on my shoulder because we have a lot of work to do for our people now. “However, let us limit the encouragement you are giving me to the level of vote of confidence and forget about second term or 2014.’’
FCT
The Director of Assets Declaration, Code of Conduct Bureau, Alhaji Sani Mohammed, has said that civil servants can declare just their bank accounts in the absence of any tangible assets.
Mohammed, who gave the clarification in Abuja on Thursday in Abuja, said assets must not be tangible and big before they could be declared.
He said that some civil servant often complained that they did not know what to declare since they did not own houses, cars or any other assets that they could declare as assets.
The director described asset declaration, as one of the mandatory duties of civil/public servants contained in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Every public officer shall, within three months after taking office, declare his assets and any officer that fails to comply with this provision of the constitution will be deemed to have violated laws of the land.”
Kaduna
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Transport, Sen. Sahabi Ya’u, says the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) is a path for Nigeria to meet global transport challenges.
He made this known on Wednesday to newsmen after inspecting facilities at the NITT in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Ya’u said the institute had all it takes to transform the nation’s transport system, noting that the Senate would revisit its enabling law for the good of Nigerians and Africans.
“So far so good, the institute is doing very well. All the same, we want to review its law in such a way that NITT can compete favourably with world class transport institutes.”
The lawmaker lauded the contributions of the institute toward ensuring a virile and standard transport system in Nigeria.
The NITT Director-General, Alhaji Aminu Musa-Yusuf, had said that without transportation nothing meaningful could be achieved.
Kebbi
Some Political parties in Kebbi on Wednesday criticised the new fees and guidelines issued by KebbiState Independent Electoral Commission (KSIEC), for the forthcoming local government polls in the state. The KSIEC had announced September 15, 2012 as date for fresh council elections.
The state Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Alhaji UsmanDan-Gwari, said that the non refundable fees of N150, 000 for nomination forms for the chairmanship position was too much. He said that the N50, 000 fees for the positions of councillors was not acceptable to the party.
Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), observed that women had not been given any special attention in the guidelines.
The state Chairman of Alliance Democracy (AD), Hajiya Hauwa’u Mohammed, Alhaji Boi Isa, called on the commission to provide alternative for voters who had lost their voters cards to enable them cast their votes.
Jigawa
The Jigawa Commissioner for Education Prof. Haruna Wakili, says the State Government will establish sick bays in all the boarding schools across the state.
Wakili said in Dutse on Wednesday that all the sick bays would be equipped and manned by qualified health personnel.
“The sick bays will be established in all the 43 boarding schools we have, where the sick students will be treated,’’ he said.
He said the State Government had approved the school health policy for the well being of its students.
Wakili explained that henceforth any new student admitted into any of the schools in the state would be examined medically to ascertain the health condition of such student.
“The medical tests will enable us to know the history of the student as it is done in tertiary institutions.”
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State last Thursday naugurated a seven- member commission of enquiry to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of last week’s violent crisis in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dameshi Luka, Al-makura, described as “shocking’’ the hostilities between the Eggon and Alago tribes in the area, which left many dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
The governor said that appropriate legal instruments were executed in setting up the commission and gave it 30 days to complete its assignment and submit a report to government.
Responding, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Isah Ramalan (rtd), assured the state government that the members would carry out their assignment diligently, without fear or favour.
He called for the support of the people of the state, especially the affected communities, to facilitate their assignment, aimed at bringing a lasting solution to the incessant crisis in the state.
Osun
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun has described the death of Oba Oladele Olashore, the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesha as “the end of an era.”
This is contained in a condolence message jointly signed by the party’s chairman, Chief Adelowo Adebiyi and Publicity Secretary, Prof. Moses Awogbade, on Wednesday in Osogbo.
The duo in the statement made available to newsmen said the passage of the traditional ruler was a monumental loss to the state and the country at large.
The ACN chieftains described the late Olashore as one of the nation’s patriots during his life time, adding that his contributions to the country’s financial sector were immense.
“Olashore who until his death was one of the greatest patriots in Nigeria served as a Minister of Finance meritoriously and built a niche for himself in the finance sector.”
Oyo
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has warned the new caretaker executive of the NURTW in the state against acts of violence and brigandage in the state.
Ajimobi gave the warning on Wednesday when the executive members led by Alhaji Taofik Oyerinde visited his office in Ibadan.
The governor said all acts capable of breaching public peace in the state would be seriously dealt with.
He, however, vowed that government would make the state conducive for every peace loving member of the union to go about his business.
Responding, Oyerinde commended the governor for lifting the ban placed on the union’s activities in the state.
Oyerinde assured government that his members would give necessary support to the restoration programme of the state government by conducting itself peacefully at all times.
Plateau
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Garba Pwul, has asked the Plateau Government to “immediately” conduct elections into the local government councils.
“Governor Jonah Jang must move immediately to democratise the 17 local governments by conducting council polls without further delay,” Pwul said in Jos on Wednesday.
Noting that appointing administrators to head the councils was illegal, he asked the governor to end such illegality as there was no place for Transition Chairman in the Nigerian Constitution.
The Plateau State government on January 18 appointed transition chairmen for the 17 Local Governments after dissolving the elected council chairmen, whose tenure had expired.
Pwul said that the governor should not have dissolved the former council chairmen without conducting a fresh council election and argued that with the Plateau Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) in place, there was no need for government to delay the conduct of the polls.
Sokoto
Chairman, Wamakko Local Government Council of Sokoto State, Alhaji Mohammad Kalambaina, said that the council spent about N2.5 million in the renovation of 30 houses in its staff quarters.
Kalambaina told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that the project was aimed at maintaining the building structures for optimal use.
He said the administration would continue to accord priority to the welfare of its workers to ensure high productivity.
The chairman called on the workers to reciprocate the gesture by excelling in the discharge of their primary assignments.
Kalambaina called on the people to always live in peace with one another to enable the council provide social amenities for them.
Ogene of Asa Asi Asaga Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Andrew Enemuwa, has expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the award of the contract for construction of Igiri- Ubimini-Egbeda-Elele road project.
Eze Enemuwa said the people of the local government are proud associating with a visionary leader like Governor Fubara whose interest in the development of his people knows no bounds.
The monarch, also the Secretary of Ogba Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Council said the unprecedented crowd of ONELGA people that attended the event shows that Governor Fubara is greatly loved and cherished by the people.
The Eze Dike Di Nu Obi of Ogbaland said the presence of the traditional rulers at the event speaks volumes.
The Okene Asa Kaka urged the people of the area to support Governor Fubara to attract more development to the local government area.
As Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, the United Nations Children Fund( UNICEF) has put the number of abducted children at different schools within the last 10 years in Nigeria at 1,680.
The organisation said this at an event it organised in conjunction with the Faculty of Media and Communications Studies in the University of Port Harcourt to mark the 10 years anniversary of Chibok girls abductions.
According to UNICEF release read by Communication officer, UNICEF Nigeria Dr Mrs Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, 180 children were killed within the period under review due to attacks on schools, while an estimated 60 school Staff were kidnapped,14 killed and more than 70 attacks on schools.
It urged the Nigerian Government and security agencies to intensify effort towards the rescue of the 90 remaining Chibok girls.
UNICEF described the Chibok girls saga as a wakeup call to the severe risks children face in their pursuit of education
‘Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s future must be amplified
“Given this alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis,” it said.
UNICEF also said that the threat of abduction of students is severely affecting children’s learning.
“As at 2021, over one million children were afraid to return to school and in 2020, around 11,500 schools were closed due to attacks”, it said.
It called on the government and the international community to ensure that all schools have the resources and tools to fully implement the minimum standards for safe schools, focus on the most vulnerable regions and address critical gaps in safe schools infrastructure.
UNICEF also called for preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts and comprehensive approaches to violence against children.
Others include, strengthening law enforcement and security measures to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abduction, prioritising education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children and ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are shut through multiple learning pathways such as radio and TV programme and through digital platforms the Nigerian learning Passport.
Ogwe said UNICEF is working with the Nigerian Government to ensure that every child can access safe learning environment.
“The agency has supported the inauguration of state safe school steering committees and the drafting of state costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 States.
“It also provides school grants, safety kits training and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the minimum standards for safe schools.
“As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose rights to education have been compromised, let this somber anniversary serves as a catalyst for change”, UNICEF said.
Speaking with The Tide, Dr Nwachukwu Ginikanwa said the anniversary should serve as a wakeup call to the authorities to take the issue of security seriously.
John Bibor
As the one year anniversary of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration in Rivers State draws closer, a former Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Amb.Oji Ngofa, says the Governor has rekindled the hope of Rivers people.
Amb. Ngofa said within the one year of the administration, the Governor has shown a sense of connecting the people and the government unlike the immediate past administration led by Chief Nyesom Wike.
The former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) explained that within one year, Rivers people are seeing a visionary leadership whose imagination is essentially focused on the desire to improve the lives of the people, with the sole aim of creating an economy where everyone can participate.
Speaking in an interview in Port Harcourt, the forrmer Ambassador said Governor Fubara has been able to engage relevant stakeholders and sectors of the State which, according to him, remains the hallmark of leadership.
He emphasised that with Governor Fubara, no doubt, Rivers State is in safe hands, saying with Governor Fubara, there is the likelihood that the State would be greater than other States.
He noted that the Governor’s vision to develop and give capacity to the people in order to participate in the economy as well as creating the enabling environment for business to flourish in the State, coupled with his peaceful nature, have all combined to endear him to the people.
Amb Ngofa said real power comes from how well one is connected with the people through good leadership, and the people on their own voluntarily surrender to you just as Governor Fubara has demonstrated within the past one year, stressing that that has informed his decision as an astute politician just like all well-meaning Rivers people to align with the Governor in order to move the State forward .
He described Governor Fubara’s milestones in infrastructure, human capital development, health and agriculture as monumental.
Amb Ngofa urged the Governor to ensure his revitalisa- tion programme on Songhai Farms extends to Buguma and Andoni fish farms and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), and expand on the initiative, as it is critical in job creation for the teeming youths of the State.
“ In his one year in office as governor, Rivers people have seen the difference in terms of governance and total departure from self. Now Rivers people are having easy access to their governor. His focus is on policies and programmes that are capable of revitalising the economy aimed at improving the wellbeing of Rivers people, not just one man. Projects are springing up in all parts of the State, not necessarily in Port Harcourt and Obio,/ Akpor. All in just one year despite the distractions”, he said.
The Port Harcourt ring road loan to small skill medium businesses are one of the biggest achievements of his administration
Aleto- Woji road abandoned by the last administration had been carried on by a government that has interest of the people at heart
Despite the destruction ,he had demonstrated sense of focus on his primary duties as a governor
We are not just seeing monumental projects ,Rivers people are seeing total commitment to create an economy that will enable Rivers people to have a hold on there lives especially with projects like revitalizing Shonghai ,plaintain farms .
It is critical focusing on human capital development .I am aware of his programme of revitalising the economy ,state owned industries through public private partnership
Rivers people hope had been rekindled and those of us who are critic to the governor Wike led administration had been vindicated
Urging Eleme people to support the administration of governor Fubara to achieve their common dream which is development.
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